as in joining
to become a friend to (someone)
He befriended the new student.
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Recent Examples of befriending
Liza Minnelli's iconic career has included both starring alongside and befriending some of Hollywood's most prolific names, from Elizabeth Taylor to Michael Jackson.
—
Sharareh Drury, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
More and more people are avoiding dating or befriending those with opposing political views, and growing numbers describe those on the other side as closed-minded, dishonest, immoral and unintelligent.
—Justin Callais, Twin Cities, 5 Mar. 2026
More and more people are avoiding dating or befriending those with opposing political views, and growing numbers describe those on the other side as closed-minded, dishonest, immoral and unintelligent.
—Justin Callais, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
Jingliang Su, a Chinese national, faces almost four years in prison for his role in crypto fraud that relied on befriending Americans on social media, then winning their trust in order to fleece them.
—Carlos Garcia, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026
The only problem with this whole Hollywood Cinderella story is that Simon is secretly harboring superpowers, a big no-no for the entertainment industry, and Trevor has some ulterior motives in befriending this real-life superhero who wants to play a superhero in a movie.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Adapting the second installment, which was released in 2014, the movie continues the adventures of Hiccup (Thames), the dragon-befriending Viking who opened up his village to the possibilities of coexisting with the flying, fire-breathing creatures.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
Still, others are happiest at a considered farm stay or upstate hideaway, where the pleasure lies in quiet mornings and befriending animals on the farm.
—Livia Caligor, Architectural Digest, 23 Dec. 2025
After meeting and befriending a single mother and her three daughters, Wildhorn begins to open up and regains his passion for writing.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 20 Dec. 2025
Sharareh Drury, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
More and more people are avoiding dating or befriending those with opposing political views, and growing numbers describe those on the other side as closed-minded, dishonest, immoral and unintelligent.
—Justin Callais, Twin Cities, 5 Mar. 2026
More and more people are avoiding dating or befriending those with opposing political views, and growing numbers describe those on the other side as closed-minded, dishonest, immoral and unintelligent.
—Justin Callais, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
Jingliang Su, a Chinese national, faces almost four years in prison for his role in crypto fraud that relied on befriending Americans on social media, then winning their trust in order to fleece them.
—Carlos Garcia, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026
The only problem with this whole Hollywood Cinderella story is that Simon is secretly harboring superpowers, a big no-no for the entertainment industry, and Trevor has some ulterior motives in befriending this real-life superhero who wants to play a superhero in a movie.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Adapting the second installment, which was released in 2014, the movie continues the adventures of Hiccup (Thames), the dragon-befriending Viking who opened up his village to the possibilities of coexisting with the flying, fire-breathing creatures.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
Still, others are happiest at a considered farm stay or upstate hideaway, where the pleasure lies in quiet mornings and befriending animals on the farm.
—Livia Caligor, Architectural Digest, 23 Dec. 2025
After meeting and befriending a single mother and her three daughters, Wildhorn begins to open up and regains his passion for writing.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 20 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befriending
Verb
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Prior to joining the team in-house, Sarah worked in luxury fashion e-commerce while freelancing for the title as well as other reputable UK publications such as House and Garden, Evening Standard, Sleeper Magazine, and Suitcase.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
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The Dow losses pulled it into correction territory, joining the Nasdaq, which entered a correction the day before.—
Tanaya Macheel,
CNBC,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Learning a language, studying abroad, or simply traveling to experience something entirely unfamiliar to you.—
Kirah Tabourn,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
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Woods' vehicle had been traveling between 84 and 87 mph in an area with a 45 mph speed limit, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said at the time.—
Melissa Gaffney,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Torrez had accused the company of allowing predators unfettered access to underage users and connecting them with victims, often leading to real-world abuse and human trafficking.—
Diana Novak Jones,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
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During her tenure, the district worked on several major initiatives focusing on conservation, restoration and connecting visitors to the forest preserves, the release said.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Befriending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befriending. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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